Having your legal documents in place is one thing. Keeping them up to date and current is another.

Lately, I’ve been getting asked a lot about when the right time to update legal documents is. As we get busier throughout the year, these types of updates can fall to the wayside. We get caught up in the process of launching that new course or making changes to our offerings.

But this doesn’t have to be stressful, and there’s more than one way to make sure you’re keeping all your Ts & Cs up to date. Today I talk about the different ways you can do this. 

Offerings can change, the way you’re providing services to clients can change, and different courses require different Ts & Cs. So, if you are a service-based business, then you need to dive in and update your documents when things change.

Making sure your I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed is not only going to save you time, but it will make for a far more streamlined and pleasant experience for your clients.

Additionally, it’s important to comply with Australian consumer law obligations, and I want to help you put in place some simple practices that will ensure you do this. 

I hope you find some useful tips in today’s episode on how and when to review your legal documents, and in turn, protect your business the best you can. 

LINKS:

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website: tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here

Crystal clear clarity is a personal value of mine. For me, clarity comes when I speak and I believe that words are so important. Words help us gain an understanding on what it is we need to do and where we need to focus. They are also extremely important when it comes to your legal documents so today I’m talking about why words matter, legally. 

Words can mean different things to different people, which is why it’s vital that your legal documents are clear, concise and represent your business and your offerings accurately. In this episode, I outline some of the important aspects to consider when it comes to the words you use in your legal documents and how a poor choice of words, or words that are too vague, can potentially wind you up in an expensive legal battle. 

I share some examples of how unclear wording in legal documents can cause a dispute, particularly when it comes to payment terms. As a business owner, one of the last things you want to do is end up in court because the wording in your legal documents wasn’t quite right. There is no substitute for preparation, so make sure you set yourself up for success by building your business on solid foundations. 

I hope this episode gives you some insight as to why words really do matter from a legal perspective and what you can do to ensure you are meeting your legal obligations, protecting your business and managing your client’s expectations from the get go. 

LINKS:

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website:tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here 

This time of year can be really exciting for business owners. It’s a time for new ideas, a renewed sense of drive, and a reinvigoration of energy. We see businesses launching new offerings and services, new memberships presented and courses launched. You name it, we’re seeing it.

In today’s episode, I want to talk to you about the issue of infringing trademarks and how it can be avoided by putting the right processes in place. While I have touched on trademarking previously, there is just so much to unpack on this topic that I want to dig further into what it means and how you can protect yourself as a business owner.

As I see more and more people seeking advice on cease and desist letters and instances of trademark infringement, I want you to think about the procedures you have in place for these scenarios. 

Without thorough preparation, there is a real risk that you might infringe on somebody else’s trade and be asked to stop trading yourself. Losing the precious time, money and effort you’ve put into your new idea could be devastating and costly. 

Today I share the different steps you can take to make sure you are doing the research and due diligence that will give you peace of mind when moving your business forward. 

Putting a meaningful and unique name to your new venture is an exciting process, and I hope this episode will guide you in going about this in the best way possible. 

LINKS:

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website:tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here

I know that a lot of business owners are interested to know what it’s really like working with me. So today I’m joined by a beautiful client of mine who doesn't hold back and tells it how it is. Who better to share an honest review of what it’s like working with me than Erika Cramer, the Queen of Confidence. 

Erika is a confidence coach, business mentor, author, speaker and passionate about empowering women to be all they can be. In this episode, Erika shares her experience working with me from one woman in business to another. 

Prior to working with me, Erika had experience with another lawyer but she shares how it was purely transactional, as opposed to a collaborative relationship. She shares how working with me made her feel listened to and nurtured in a way that wouldn’t be expected from a lawyer. 

Many business owners put off doing their legals until it’s too late. Erika’s advice to other women in business who might be unsure is to stop waiting. No matter what your vision is for your business, you’re here to make an impact in the world. And if you’re not legally protected, your legacy is being exposed. 

Don’t wait until something horrible happens because as I always say, prevention is better than cure. So if you’ve been putting off getting your legals in order or you’ve been wary of engaging with a lawyer, now is the time to reach out. Erika talks about the incredible peace of mind she experienced knowing that she was protected and her business was set up for the future. 

LINKS:

Connect with Erika Cramer:

• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thequeenofconfidence/
• Website:https://thequeenofconfidence.com/
• Podcast:The Confidence Chronicles

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website:tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here

Sometimes we can feel like we’re running around chasing our own tails. We start our work days trying to get a handle on all the emails, the schedule and team queries. It can feel like we’ve started the day in a very reactive mode.

There can be a number of reasons why we’re feeling reactive instead of proactive, but one of the biggest issues that we can have as small business owners is a lack of organisation.

I am personally quite obsessed with planning and finding ways to improve my productivity, and thought it would be helpful if I shared three tips to improve your organisational skills on the podcast today.

Firstly, I discuss the importance of planning for the next day the night before, in order to avoid any last-minute stress or worries about forgetting something important. 

Secondly, I talk about the importance of using a workflow management system in order to keep track of tasks and projects.

Lastly, I discuss the importance of having a morning routine in order to start the day off in a calm and focused manner.

Every business is different, and what works for one business may not work for another but if you can focus on a few key areas you may find that your business runs a lot more smoothly.


LINKS:

Monday.com

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website:tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here

There is nothing better than the promise of a fresh, new year. 

I personally love this time as it prompts me to reflect, reassess and look at what I want my business to look like moving into the new year.
 

I know that a lot of business owners also like to reflect at this time of year, and I wanted to take the opportunity to talk about a common trap I see small business owners fall into, and that is making decisions from your ego.

During this period of reflection, we tend to look around at what others are doing in business and feel as if we don’t measure up. We look at others and feel like we should be further along and we can start to feel bad about ourselves. This is often our ego taking over and it causes us to make decisions out of alignment with our true purpose.

It's easy to get distracted by other people's successes or social media feeds that make them out to be more than they may actually be. We can fall into the trap of thinking that the same success should apply to us when we haven’t really assessed what our business actually needs, and what we need to be focusing on for ourselves.

So as we move into a new year, I want you to take some time to evaluate how your own ego is driving your decisions and actions.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Is this decision in alignment with my personal goals? 
• Will this help me reach my desired outcome in business? 

So often our egos will drive us down the wrong path but acknowledging its presence and its influence can help keep us on track with where we want to go in our businesses. 

Find a way to block out the noise for yourself, and keep the focus on your own achievements.

LINKS:

Human Design

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website:tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here

We are at that time of the year where, hopefully, you’re not focused on moving the needle in your business but taking some well-deserved time off.

This episode offers some light discussion and inspiration for when you’re enjoying your downtime, to reflect on the year.

I find this time of the year really valuable to pause and reflect on business and life in general. This feels vital for me to prepare and plan for the year ahead.

Part of the process is reflecting on what worked and what didn’t. I share with you what I’ve identified as my low point and my high point of the year.

My biggest challenge for the year has turned into my biggest learning. I explain how, with the right people around me - my bookkeeper, accountant and business strategist - I was able to take action to turn around a difficult situation. This was a powerful lesson and it’s positioned me really well moving forward into 2023. The lessons here have heavily factored into my 2023 planning. The clarity feels priceless.

I also share my high points of the year, including the ability to offer pro bono work, some incredible business growth and the ways I’ve been able to prioritise myself. In the past 12 months, I have dived into Human Design - I appreciate it so much because it’s enabled me to take action in areas of my life and business that have proven to be game-changing.

What can you take away from your year as nuggets of gold to implement into your planning and strategic work for 2023?

LINKS:

Human Design

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website:    tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here

Most of us are either just about to “switch off” or we’ve already started to wind down. This episode is really timely in that context. We’re throwing back to the gold that was in the episode with Dr Kristy Godwin. If you haven’t listened to it, this will be a game-changer for you. If you’re like me and you already have, listening to it again will be even better.

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Overwhelm is something business owners experience all the time. In more recent years, particularly throughout the pandemic, our digital load has increased to the point where it’s leading many business owners to digital overwhelm. 

My conversation today with the incredible Dr Kristy Goodwin is one of the most inspirational conversations I’ve had in a very long time. Dr Kristy is a digital well-being and neuro-productivity speaker, author and researcher. We talk today about what digital overwhelm is, why it impacts us so much and what we can do to combat it. 

In this episode, Dr Kristy sheds light on the way our brains function and why we must create sustainable digital habits that work with our biological blueprint. We talk about how to work in alignment with your neurobiology by understanding your chronotype, prioritising rest and establishing healthy digital boundaries. 

Dr Kristy also busts the multitasking myth and explains why it’s foolish to even try! As business owners, it’s vital that we let go of the guilt and pressure to be responsive and productive at all times. We must see rest as a responsibility, not as a reward. 

I have no doubt that this conversation is going to be a game changer for so many of you and help you move forward in your business in a way that replenishes you.

LINKS:

Where to find Kristy: 

Pre-order Dr Kristy Goodwin’s new book, which is coming out soon here

Take the Chronotype Quiz here

Download her e-book “Five Essential Digital Productivity Hacks” here

Website:        https://drkristygoodwin.com/

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/drkristygoodwin

LinkedIn:        https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kristy-goodwin/

Instagram:        https://www.instagram.com/drkristy/

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website:    tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here

This week I want to talk about strategy and planning for 2023. I love a good strategy. And there is no substitute for preparation. This applies to so many aspects of life and certainly to many parts of running a business.

This time of year can be a really wonderful opportunity to pause, take stock and reflect on the year that’s been. This allows us to uncover the lessons from the year and understand where the real value was in our business journey across the year.

My starting place for planning is always looking back, being mindful and identifying what worked and what didn’t work. Taking a gentle and compassionate look at the year that’s been can be really empowering. I really love the start of anything new. It feels like a clean slate.

I share the five questions to ask yourself when you’re reflecting on the year that has been and put your strategy together for 2023. This helps me understand the lessons from the year, including where I’ve strayed from my ‘why’.

Nothing stays the same forever. When I inject fluidity into my plan, I find it really refreshing and empowering. It gives me permission, to be honest, and understand what’s really going on in my business, I reflect without judgement.

I also explain how I do my planning in quarters and the software I use. I share a declaration that has been really powerful in my planning and strategy development: I don’t do overwhelm. It’s been a game-changer. Having fierce boundaries has helped make sure overwhelm is no longer part of my life.

We can’t achieve our goals and objectives if we don’t know what they are and we don’t have a map or a pathway to get there.

I hope this inspires you to take what you have learnt from the year that’s been, incorporate that into a planning process and build a strategy for the next year in your business.

LINKS:

monday.com

Marie Forleo

Amy Porterfield podcast with Marie Forleo: Everything is Figureoutable

Previously mentioned episode:

Ep 94 - When Things Don't Go According To Plan In Your Business

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website:    tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here

At this time of year, I always take the time to pause and reflect on what has been. Is business everything I thought it would be? Have things gone according to plan?

We place so much focus on success and achieving our goals that often when things don’t go how we hoped they would, we perceive this as failure. But the truth is, failure is not the opposite of success. Failure is a vital part of success. 

In this episode, I want to encourage you to take a moment to reflect on 2022, take stock and commend yourself for your incredible efforts this year. The business journey is not linear, which is why it’s so important that we embrace change, and recognise that success is when we are being the best version of ourselves, despite the circumstances. 

I talk about remembering your “why” in business. Why do you do what you do? Because when you’re crystal clear on your why and use it as an anchor in your business journey, it’s much easier to navigate the ups and downs. Coming back to your values and purpose will help you to keep your head up when things don’t go according to plan. 

So, while you’re reflecting on the year that’s been, if you feel like things haven’t gone according to plan, remember to pause and celebrate your wins. Be proud of yourself for pushing through every obstacle and challenge you faced, and understand that failure is absolutely vital for growth. 

LINKS:

Get your copy of my Annual Legal Checklist here

Join The Legally Empowered Entrepreneur Masterclass Series here

Website:tmsolicitor.com.au

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tmsolicitor/

Book a Strategy Session with me here